Thoracoscopic Lobectomy versus Segmentectomy in the Treatment of Patients with Early-Stage Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy of thoracoscopic lobectomy and segmentectomy in the treatment of patients with early-stage lung cancer. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer who were treated in our hospital from April 2018 to May 2020 were recruited and assigned at a ratio of 1 : 1 to receive either segmentectomy (observation group) or lobectomy (control group). Outcome measures included clinical efficacy, surgery-related indicators, pulmonary function indicators (forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)), postoperative complications, and recurrence and metastasis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the clinical efficacy between the two groups (P > 0.05). Segmentectomy was associated with a longer operation time and shorter hospital stay compared to lobectomy (P < 0.05). There was no statistical significance in the amount of intraoperative blood loss and the number of lymph nodes dissected (P > 0.05). Segmentectomy resulted in significantly higher FVC and FEV1 levels in patients compared to lobectomy (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). The two groups of patients were followed up for 12 months after the operation, and there was no recurrence or metastasis in either group. CONCLUSION: The two surgical methods have similar efficacy and safety profiles, but for the treatment of patients with early-stage lung cancer, thoracoscopic segmentectomy is associated with a shorter hospital stay and better protection of the lung function of patients compared to lobectomy.